Hello, brothers and sisters! As I mentioned in the August Broadcaster, my goal is to encourage you through this written medium as the witness and evangelist that you are in Christ. We've been talking about "2 in '22" for a few months now in the hopes that we are telling others (who are unchurched or seeking Christ in other ways) how they can meet Jesus at United Baptist. What is so affirming is the way God is opening doors for newcomers over the last couple of months. As I've reached out to most all of them in various ways, I've been able to hear stories of faithful, dedicated Christ-followers who want to learn more about who we are and how they might connect with the body of Christ here at UBC. What a joy it's been to interact with them, either on phone or in person (and in a couple cases, via email) and experience the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. More new faces have graced our sanctuary (and in the case of one newcomer our Mathetes Bible study) and the Lord is giving them the gift of welcome at every turn! Therefore, while I'm sharing with you today about the blessing of "each one reaching two" I feel that it is vital to remind each one of us that the "reaching out" doesn't stop once we've invited our two people outside of our church address. Rather, the "reaching out" continues once they've arrived to worship with us on Sunday mornings, or stop to help with the Clothes Closet prep on Wednesday afternoons, or sit down at Bible study on Wednesday evenings. In fact, our "reaching out" is, in many ways, just beginning!
Before I talk more about how to "reach out" to those you know who are unchurched or are looking for Jesus, I want to share with you about Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Most Jews would travel around Samaria in Jesus' day because Jews couldn't stand Samaritans (they were a mixed race of Assyrians and Jews). Additionally, Samaritans mixed the Jewish religion with some of their own, which added to the disgust the Jews felt for Samaritans. But Jesus decided in advance that he had to go through Samaria and, according to John 4, we know why! He cared about this woman who was attempting to hide a sordid past. After all, she was coming to draw water from the well at high noon so that others would not notice her. But Jesus did notice her and engaged her, not as an outsider but as someone dearly beloved by God. As soon as Jesus had invited her into a conversation, she was treated as an equal (let's not forget, women were treated unfairly in those days, and she was a Samaritan!). Jesus reached out to her by treating her fairly and justly. As the conversation continued, Jesus cordially probed into who she was and what she believed. After speaking about "water that springs to eternal life" and how the "true worshipers will worship in Spirit and in Truth" this woman no longer felt like she was just "attending" to someone at a well. Instead, she felt loved, cared for and seen. The scriptures tell us in John 4:28-30 that she ran off to tell everyone about the man who know "everything about [her]." And this woman's witness brought many to faith in Christ.
There's some wonderful lessons here that we don't want to miss. Yes, each one of us is encouraged to reach two to see and experience Jesus at United Baptist.
- First, reaching out happens in the caring, compassionate ways you relate to these two people. Welcoming them into your "space," into your life experiences, show them that you can be trusted and that you care about Jesus and his will in your life. Jesus did this quickly with the woman at the well.
- Secondly, Jesus spent more time engaging this woman in conversation that helped her ask difficult yet necessary questions about the essence of her faith. We, too, are called to engage one another in conversations that go beyond the superficial and touch on the deeper, more meaningful and long-lasting truths of our life here on earth. Everyone's heart is asking, "What is my purpose? Why am I here? Do I belong, and if so, how do I know this and why must I know this?" You and I, friends, have the answers to those questions. Our reaching out must be intentional yet friendly, pointed but patient. Jesus did this with the woman at the well.
- Lastly, Jesus' outreach was so authentic, so genuine and so life-giving that the woman left her water jar and ran about the town telling everyone she knew about Jesus and how his words changed her life. We want to keep reaching out to those we love by offering them this same Jesus, the One who pours himself into others, freely and lovingly, in order that those who are changed by our Savior can't help but to tell others about him and others whose lives have summarily been changed. Who are those other lives you might be wondering? You and I are--members of Christ's body--that's who! Let us reach out in love so consistently and honestly that others want to be around the Spirit of Christ, too. Often, that means finding Jesus in worship, fellowship, ministry and discipleship in a local church. And that local church might as well be United Baptist, amen?!?
As it relates to "2 in '22," and as everyone is encouraged ("each one, reach two...") to carry out personal, relational outreach, remember the story of Jesus and his encounter with this beloved woman at the well. Though her past was suspect, and though she was mistreated and felt unloved, Jesus kept pursuing her, reminding her that God created her to know the Way, the Truth and the Life. After all, the true worshipers will worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24), and that's the only kind of worship we will ever do as the body of Christ at United--Christ-centered, Bible-based and Holy-Spirit empowered worship. Let us "reach out" with an invitation, but let us continue to reach out in the ways we engage our newcomers, learning about them, caring for their walks with Jesus, and promising to walk alongside them in this journey known as God's Call. There can be nothing better in the world that to join others in their pursuit of Christ Jesus our Lord!
May the grace of our Redeeming Lord give you the courage and the bravery to reach out through invitation, but to continue to reach out in the ways you lovingly engage their truest selves. When that happens, I can guarantee that Jesus is close by...after all, Jesus shows up whenever two or more are gathered in his name! Count on it!
Looking forward to seeing more newcomers as each one reaches two, to the glory of God alone,
><> Pastor Will <><
John 3:30
